Describing PiL as his "first love," and only on a 17 year "hiatus," John Lydon will re-form Public Image Ltd. for a five-date tour beginning in Birmingham in December. The tour will coincide with the 30 year anniversary of the release of Metal Box.
Formed in 1978, PiL were together eight years with numerous line-ups. In 1979 they released their second album Metal Box, widely considered a landmark album. Metal Box opened the door to the post-punk era, NME calling PiL "arguably the first" post-punk band. Jah Wobble's (John Wardle) bass on the album, some of the best ever recorded, earned him the reputation as one of the finest bass players of all-time, and Keith Levene's innovative guitar playing a major factor in post-punk's collision with reggae.
"The 2009 PiL will not contain original band members Jah Wobble or Keith Levene (ex-Clash) but will instead feature guitarist Lu Edmonds, drummer Bruce Smith and a new arrival in multi-instrumentalist Scott Firth."
This understandably does not sit well with Paul Lester of The Guardian, who said today that "PiL's sonic sorcery can't work without Levene and Wobble."
Photo and quote: guardian.co.uk
